Kentucky Derby Road: March 1 Fountain of Youth Stakes, San Felipe Stakes, Gotham Stakes

 

Coolmore Fountain of Youth Stakes , 1 1/16 Mile at Gulfstream Park
Sovereignty (3-1) came from back of the pack to nail River Thames (2-1) by a neck on the wire in the G2 Fountain of Youth, timed in 1:43.12. River Thames attended the early pace of 23.12, 47.07 and 1:10.68 set by Neoquos (14-1) before taking over in upper stretch to lead almost to the finish. Neoquos stayed on for a non-threatening third, beaten 2 3/4 lengths. Burnham Square (9-5 favorite) was fourth a neck back, and Gate to Wire fifth. Keep It Easy was eased. It was Sovereignty's first start of 2025 after beginning the year with a sketchy worktab. He won the Street Sense in his last start of 2024 with a closing style like today's effort Junior Alvarado was aboard for trainer Bill Mott and owner-breeder Godolphin. Sovereignty is a son of Into Mischief out the Bernardini mare Crowned. McKellen and Solid Left were scratched, leaving only a six-horse field. Kentucky Derby points 50-25-15-10-5.

The winning Equibase speed figure is 98. Sovereignty ran 73 and 84 Equibase figures in his first two starts, maiden special weights at Aqueduct and Saratoga, and a 99 when he broke his maiden at Churchill Downs in the Street Sense. Sovereignty and River of Thames were awarded a 95 Beyer Speed Figure (revised down from 98). Neoquos and Burnham Square each got a 91 Beyer.

Winning trainer Bill Mott: “It was a great run. He had a good trip. We had a good post inside, saved some ground on the first turn. Fortunately we didn’t get an outside post and have to be wide on the first turn. He saved some ground, he was able to tip out, and he’s got some acceleration. We got one under our belt and now we get with the team and see where we go. I guess it’s a good thing that we’ve shown that we can run over the track. Naturally, [the Florida Derby] is on the list of things to be considered very strongly.”

Winning jockey Junior Alvarado: “I was just trying to give him a good race. We’ve been running second and third and I wanted to make sure he could finish. At the three-eighths pole I found myself trying to save ground but I don’t think the inside’s the best place to be so I thought, let me lose a little ground here and put him on the outside. I was already a little bit riding him and when I put him in the clear, it seemed like everything came back to his head and he turned it on. After that it was like, ‘I hope we get there in time,’ and he did. He kept grinding his way there. He’s such a nice horse.

“When I saw him in the paddock I thought he looked like a man among kids. He was very, very, very good. Billy Mott always brings the horses here beautiful. I was just a little bit worried about the break that he had. He was still a baby back then and I knew he was still probably learning. I think today he was a little more of what’s happening. I just think he outclassed these horses.”

Trainer Todd Pletcher (River Thames, 2d, Gate to Wire, 5th): “He kind of got to looking around a little bit late. Johnny said he was looking at the screen and just got a little bit complacent on the lead. He showed that he’s still maturing. We actually got a perfect trip, stalking the horse that we thought would show speed. We were able to put him away and it looked like he was maybe home and I think he got a little complacent. The winner ran a very good race. He’s had three races in seven weeks, so we’ll let the dust settle and come up with a plan.

“[Gate to Wire] got a good trip, the trip we were hoping for. It looked like he started backing up a little bit at the three-eighths pole and then he kind of re-rallied a little bit, and just flattened out a little bit the last part.”

John Velazquez (on board River Thames, 2nd): “It was a good trip. I was where I wanted to be. He acted up a little bit today, kind of getting away from the horses, shying away. I had to ride him early on the turn. He passed the other horse and kind of stopped and got nailed.”

Trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. (Neoequos, 3rd): “I thought he ran well. I thought he was a winner at the three-furlong pole, he just didn’t stay. He’s a good horse and he proved it today. We’ll probably cut him back to one turn. Irad was aggressive and I was happy with that move. At the three-eighths pole I thought he was a winner. I thought we had [River Thames] put away for sure. Obviously, I could see [Sovereignty] making a move and my horse didn’t stay enough but he ran third. I’m proud of him.”

Irad Ortiz Jr. (on board Neoequos, 3d): “I knew he was going to be in front. I tried to slow him down as much as I could. I tried to relax him. Don't fight too much with him. And then he felt that horse outside of him at the five-eighths pole. He jumped on the bridle. But it was time to go, and he kept fighting. He was third today, first time going two turns.”

Edgard Zayas (on board Burnham Square, 4th): “He didn't break that good, like always. Last time, he made a nice move on the backstretch. But today he wasn't there. He's just still learning. It looked like in the turn he was going nowhere. But all of a sudden when I got him back to the outside, he really picked it up again. At the end he just got beat by two lengths, I think. He didn't get beat by much. I thought, wow, if he had given me this from the turn going into the stretch … He definitely needs more distance and a longer stretch. Last time it was probably a weaker field. But he's going to keep improving.”

The DK Horse San Felipe Stakes, 1 1/6 Mile at Santa Anita
At 3-1 odds Journalism pulled a mild upset defeating 2-5 favorite Barnes and two other Bob Baffert trainees. The long-striding Journalism tracked in fourth under Umberto Rispoli while Barnes ran through early fractions of 23.71 and 47.31 most closely followed by Baffert trainee Rodriguez. Heading into the far turn Journalism moved up a notch while Barnes maintained his lead with six furlongs gone in 1:11.10. It was just Barnes and Journalism at the top of the stretch, and Journalism went on with to to prevail by 1 3/4 length in a time of 1:42.24. It was Journalism's third win in four starts and his second at the 1 1/16-mile distance. Rodriguez finished third at 7-2 odds and beaten over 11 lengths, Mellencamp was fourth, and Smooth Cruisein fifth and last. With Berlin Wall scratched leaving a field of only five, reduced Kentucky Derby points were 37.5, 18.5, 11.5, 7.5 and 3.75. Michael McCarthy trains Journalism for Bridlewood Farm, Don Alberto Stable, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Elayne Stables 5 and Robert V. LaPenta. Curlin sired Journalism. He's out of Mopotism, by Uncle Mo.

For his San Felipe effort Journalism was given a rousing 110 Equibase speed figure. Journalism broke his maiden in his second start (105 speed figure) after finishing third in his debut at Del Mar (83). He went on to win the Los Alamitos Futurity (106) to close out his juvenile season. Journalism was given a 108 Beyer Speed Figure, and Barnes got a 105. Locked got a 109 for his big performance in the Santa Anita Handicap.

Winning jockey Umberto Rispoli: “He broke really sharp. He is the kind of horse that for the first furlong he needs to adjust himself. The trip was perfect. I couldn’t ask for anything better. Once I took him out and pressed the button he put on the beast mode. He ran really strong.”

Winning trainer Michael McCarthy: “Obviously it’s nice to have a horse on the Triple Crown trail. It is always great to have a horse that can take you places and he looks like he is taking himself and everybody else with him. I was fairly confident today. I wouldn’t say I was overly confident, but I thought he was doing well enough to make some noise today. It is a little overwhelming to think of where this horse could go.”

Runner-up jockey Juan Hernandez: “He was driving really well…honestly, we just got beat by a great horse today. This is his first time going two turns, and I think he ran great even after Journalism ran past me.”

Gotham Stakes, 1 Mile at Aqueduct
At 17-1 odds, Flood Zone upset the G3 Gotham for trainer Brad Cox under Reylu Gutierrez. Flood Zone, 7-5 favorite Sand Devil and longshot Normandy Coast vied for the lead through early splits of 23.86 and 47.97. The latter one faded after a half-mile. Six furlongs went in 1:13.69, and Flood Zone got the edge on Sand Devil from the outside before those two finished one-two separated by about 3 1/4 lengths. Time for the one-turn mile was 1:39.62, about par for the course for that distance today. Garamond came from mid-pack to get third, beaten five lengths. My Mitole was fourth by another 1 1/2 length followed by McAfee beaten over nine lengths. 7-5-9-10-8-6-3-4-2. Scorching was scratched after spiking a fever. The winner is owned by Wathnan Racing and was bred in Florida by Al Figliolia Westburystables. By Frosted out of Curls for Girls, by Curlin.

It was Flood Zone's first start out of the Cox barn after being previously trained by Victor Barboza, Jr. at Gulfstream Park where Flood Zone had a second and first from two starts, the latter one at 6 1/2 furlongs. Kentucky Derby points 50-25-15-10-5. McAfee and My Mitole are not early Triple Crown nominated but can become eligible with a $6,000 payment due by Monday, April 7.

Equibase gave Flood Zone a 97 speed figure in this, his third start. He got a 64 and a 95 in his first and second starts, respectively. Flood Zone was awarded a 98 Beyer Speed Figure, the same as Sovereignty in the Fountain of Youth Stakes.

Dustin Dugas, assistant to winning trainer Brad Cox, who also conditions eighth-place Sacrosanct: "It was a great effort. Reylu knew more about the horse than I did - he was a recent purchase and Reylu had ridden him the first two times as well. He said he was full of horse today and really happy with him. He broke very sharp, and he said as soon as he crossed the chute, he was full of horse and in command from there on. The horse came in from Payson and had three gallops here at Belmont. He seems like a solid colt.”

On Sacrosanct: “Manny [Franco] said he wanted to be a little more aggressive leaving there but a couple others were just as aggressive and squeezed him back. He couldn't really be as aggressive as he wanted to and from there on was playing catch up. It didn't work out in his favor, so we'll go back to the drawing board."

Winning jockey Reylu Gutierrez: "I'm ecstatic. These are the best connections in the world. Brad Cox is a multiple Eclipse Award-winning trainer. They could get any jockey in the country and for some reason they decided to keep Reylu Gutierrez on this horse and for that I'm humbled and grateful. This horse did all of it - it's all about the horse.

"He broke really sharp and on the bridle. Once we passed the chute, he was in control and in command. I just let him take me. I have to credit Dylan Davis, too. We spoke yesterday at Gulfstream about playing on this track and I have to give him a lot of credit. The horse did all the work.

"He's got small blinkers on so it's just a matter of him feeling that other horse [coming on]. He's a younger horse, too. You have to keep them alive and productive, and we did that - he did that. I didn't do anything special today. It was an outside draw and it's all about the horse. Going two turns, he'll be even better in my opinion. He has very good tactical speed and he has gears to go the distance."

On winning in New York: "It means everything to me. The emotion, especially here at Aqueduct with the Withers, the Gotham, the Wood Memorial, the Cigar Mile - they mean everything to me. Being a New York guy this is one of the best wins of my career amongst the Grade 1s and 2s just because it's New York. For me, riding in New York, there's nothing better."

Case Clay, U.S. Advisor of winning owner Wathnan Racing: "How fun was that? He always looked like a horse that could go a bit longer with his second race at six and a half furlongs, and the Gotham was the next logical step at a mile. The way he won that second race with that turn of foot on the dirt, we just had a lot of confidence in him.

"We were optimistic, but you never know with these 3-year-olds in these Derby preps how it's going to go. Reylu has always been confident in the horse, too, and wanted to ride him, and we were happy to have him ride him in this race. It's exciting and it doesn't always work out this way. For the team at Wathnan Racing, it feels good for all of us.

"A great break, very good position and not too fast for the first quarter. It was one of those things where - keep the position to the turn and then make a go of it. He answered from there and I thought it was a good ride. He had a good trip and when the rubber met the road, he answered."

On a next start and future plans to get to the Derby: "We'll get with Brad and see how he comes out of the race and make a decision from there."

Linda Rice, trainer of runner-up Sand Devil: "It wasn't exactly the trip we thought that we would get. We thought we would stalk off of it, but we stumbled at the break, and I think Jose had to get him underway then. But I thought he ran a good race."

About picking up 25 Kentucky Derby points and a potential next start in the Wood Memorial: "Frankly, as far as I'm concerned, we will head towards the Wood."

Jose Lezcano, jockey of runner-up Sand Devil: "Well, he gave me a good race. He broke a little awkwardly. I think he still gave me a very good race. I think he'll be a bit better next time, let's see what happens. I had to rush a little bit with my position, and he still gave me a good race. I think (longer) distance will be no problem for him."